Scars in our hearts

[Guest guest]

Some years ago, on a hot summer day in south Florida, a little boy

decided to go for a swim in an old swimming pool behind his house. In a hurry to

dive into the cool water, he ran out the back door, leaving

behind shoes, socks and shirt as he went.

 

He flew into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the

lake, an alligator was swimming toward the shore. His mother, who was in the

house and looking out the window, saw the boy swimming towards the alligator.

Petrified, she ran toward the water, yelling to her son to get out as loudly as

she could.

 

Hearing her voice, the little boy became alarmed and made a U-turn to

swim to his mother. It was too late. Just as he reached the bank where

his mother was, the alligator reached him. The mother grabbed her little boy by

the arms just as the alligator snatched his legs. And then began an incredible

tug-of-war between the two. The alligator was much stronger than the mother, but

the mother was totally consumed by her passion for her son and was gripped by a

holy strength.

 

While this terrible struggle was going on, a farmer happened to drive

by, heard the screams, and saw what was going on – he took his gun,

raced from the truck, and shot the alligator.

 

Remarkably, after weeks in the hospital, the little boy survived. His

legs were badly scarred by the vicious attack of the alligator. He also had deep

scratches on his arms where his mother's fingernails had dug into his flesh in

her efforts to hang on to the son she loved.

 

The newspaper reporter, who interviewed the boy after the trauma, asked if he

would show him his scars. The boy showed him his legs. And then, with great

pride, he said to the reporter, " But look at my arms. I have great scars on my

arms, too. I have them because my Mom wouldn't let go. "

 

You and I can identify with that little boy. We have scars, too. No, not from an

alligator, but the scars of a painful past! Some of those scars are unsightly

and have caused us deep regret. But, some wounds, my friend, are because God has

refused to let go. In the midst of your

struggle, He's been there holding on to you.

 

God wants to protect us and provide for us in every way. But sometimes

we foolishly wade into dangerous situations, not knowing what lies

ahead. The swimming pool of life is filled with peril and we forget that our

inner enemies are waiting to attack. That's when the tug-of-war begins - and if

you have the scars of His love on your arms, be

extremely grateful. He did not, and will not, ever let you go.

 

In a beautiful discourse, Bhagavan Baba, once said:

 

" However you are, you are Mine. I shall never give you up. Wherever

you are, you are near Me. You cannot go beyond my reach.

 

" No matter where you go, always know that I will be there, inside you, guiding

you every step of the way. In the years to come you will

experience Me in different manifestations of My form. You are My very

own, dearer than dear to Me. I will protect you as the eyelids protect

the eye. "

 

Let us trust Him, never be worried and smile at every opportunity, for

He is always watching over us.

 

Illustrations: S. B. Sai Krishna, SSSU

- Heart2Heart Team

 

Ram Chugani

Kobe, Japan

rgcjp